Pima Community College - Free for-credit courses

[bjcheung77]

Update: After several days of research, I finally figured out that I made a mistake. I added some other courses incorrectly, such as STU230, HRP200, and HON296. Once I removed them, the fees became normal.

Also, I'd like to make a correction. The course STU106 is a one-credit course, not a two-credit course as indicated on the forum. It's likely that PIMA has made changes to it recently.

Great job! Exactly what I thought happened, get rid of the classes that have fees and take the cheap/freebies for the RA credits. Split them up if needed (or if they're not offered each semester). Good luck, have fun, get those credits done...

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

Just noticed/remembered this
I am in them all (now 100% confirmed for all, including HON101), I will report back

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Update: After several days of research, I finally figured out that I made a mistake. I added some other courses incorrectly, such as STU230, HRP200, and HON296. Once I removed them, the fees became normal.

Also, I'd like to make a correction. The course STU106 is a one-credit course, not a two-credit course as indicated on the forum. It's likely that PIMA has made changes to it recently.

I did exact same with STU230, I needed my advisor to find out what I had done (it is a "success" course)
I also had to spread out over 2 semesters (scheduling of "shared" prof's for "success" courses).. it makes it "nice and lite", HON101 in term with STU109 (I want to get good grades in an "honors" course...)
I think HON296 is concurrent with the HON101 .. the D2L app, seems to sat 12288/12289 .. same times, same prof, same app "tile" (jr/sr class?)

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I also have reached out to Pima (and Clackamas) about "transcribing FEMA credits" as "in institution" courses/credits (am I a smuggler? No, an importer, sir)...

[bjcheung77]

Epiphany.y and readers - There are extra charges for classes that are not part of the 'free' list... If you think they're worth the cost, take them, but if not sure, then I'd just do the cheapies/freebies for the RA credits for now and work on the non-RA requirements at TESU or whichever institution you're looking planning to go with...

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

the under $50 for a course, for only TWO of the courses inside the wiki suggestion list, considering their free offerings, was more than fair
/
Humm I have an 6th sense that we are missing a "no/free tuition" course (at Pima CC), I can feel it in the ether --> I'm going to start looking for it in-between

[Epiphany.y]

I'm looking forward to hearing some good news from you.I'm looking forward to hearing some good news from you.

I found this school through a Reddit comment. I'm surprised nobody knew about this.
https://www.pima.edu/academics-programs/...pport.html
https://pima.edu/admission/apply-to-pima/index.html

I registered for those Student Success courses at Pima Community College. Since there weren't many courses available for selection in the summer, I had to choose courses for both the summer and autumn terms. It seemed that they were indeed almost free. However, a few days later, I received an email stating that I needed to pay a tuition fee of $1,482. So, I quickly dropped out of those courses.

the under $50 for a course, for only TWO of the courses inside the wiki suggestion list, considering their free offerings, was more than fair
/
Humm I have an 6th sense that we are missing a "no/free tuition" course (at Pima CC), I can feel it in the ether --> I'm going to start looking for it in-between

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Thanks for this great find!

If one was somehow able to take HON 101 as a non-degree-seeking student, the total cost for these would be $89.78 for 11 credits! ($8.17/credit). It also appears that these courses are offered every semester.

I was able to apply for this and get my account set up within less than 1 business day. Just signed up STU 100 - College Success/Career Planng (1) and STU 106 - Choosing Major/College Sccss (1) ($44.89 fee).

They use the same exact D2L Brightspace software as UMPI and ModernStates.

The complete list is as follows:
HON 101 - Honors Colloquium (3) - free
HRP 100 - Success in Health Prof ( 1) - free
STU 100 - College Success/Career Planning (1) - free
STU 102 - Personal Finance  (1) - free
STU 106 - Choosing Major/College Sccss (2) - $44.89 fee
STU 107 - Univ Trnsfr Explrn &Coll Succ (1) - free
STU 109 - Making Career Choices (2) - $44.89 fee

Not everyone understands ACE/NCCRS credits when I explain it to them so I like to keep a running list of dirt cheap or free online RA credits directly from a college/university that I like to recommend to people.

It now goes:

1. ASU - CIS194 - the 1 credit IT course (1 credit) - $25
2. Clackamas CC - LIB101 - Intro Lib (0.67 credit) -  $0
3. Jacksonville State U  - 3 credit P/NP course offered every semester (3 credits) - $0
4. Luna CC - Up to 6 credits per semester - (6 credits/semester or 18 credits/1 year)3 $51/credit  
4. Pima CC - These credits - (11 credits) - $90

Thank you very much for the useful information. I have a few questions for you: Does Jacksonville State University and Luna Community College charge a registration fee? Are international students allowed to enroll in these free courses? Could you please specify the names of these courses?

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

Epiphany.y ... I mistakenly listed Luna CC but

Luna is a no-no for us... we arnt Americans (and they have SARA issues, unless you know a trick I dont)

Look at TEL Learning (TEL Education), to get some well priced RA credits, seems like a good Luna CC replacement, they seem best to go with MACU (courses look ok too)
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To avoid mucking up this specific thread with random RA, swing by thee free sources wiki page (I posted fees/info there) > Also, Google "JSU Try It" (they list current and past courses on the page)
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I am international (Canadian, not American) and I got in.. but NOT LUNA CC (again, unless we can "spoof" them as "dreamers", with Pima CC or ASU Student Photo ID's ... "let me cook")
& ... if they dont ask = you dont tell ... (cause they didnt ask), IMHO at least

[Epiphany.y]

Epiphany.y ... I mistakenly listed Luna CC but

Luna is a no-no for us... we arnt Americans (and they have SARA issues, unless you know a trick I dont)

Look at TEL Learning (TEL Education), to get some well priced RA credits, seems like a good Luna CC replacement, they seem best to go with MACU (courses look ok too)
//
//
To avoid mucking up this specific thread with random RA, swing by thee free sources wiki page (I posted fees/info there) > Also, Google "JSU Try It" (they list current and past courses on the page)
//
I am international (Canadian, not American) and I got in.. but NOT LUNA CC (again, unless we can "spoof" them as "dreamers", with Pima CC or ASU Student Photo ID's ... "let me cook")
& ... if they dont ask = you dont tell ... (cause they didnt ask), IMHO at least

That's very good advice. I'll go and take a serious look at TEL Learning. Thank you!

[Captainrekt000]

I just finished 2 of these courses, both easy A's (only 90% needed)

1. STU 100 - College Success/Career Planning (1) - Each module has a bunch of readings, 1 discussion post + 2-3 replies (replies have to be done on two different days or else you lose 1 point), final essay is a 250 word paper, extra credit is 250 word paper for 25 points (out of 393)

2. STU 106 - Choosing Major/College Sccss (2)  - Each module has a bunch of readings, 1 discussion post + 2-3 replies (replies have to be done on two different days or else you lose 1 point),  final essay is a  700 word paper

I'm signed up for HRP101 (1), STU106 (1), and STU107 (1) for Summer 2025.

I somehow was also able to sign up for HON101 (3) for Fall 2025.

I don't know how much of a "deal" this is but since these 9 credits will cost roughly $90 total (after fees), if one has a ton of transfer credit, they can pay $232/credit online for 6 more credits ($1392) to get the AS General Studies degree at Pima Community College

https://catalog.pima.edu/preview_program...&poid=3343

The AS General Studies is 60 credits, and Pima CC allows up to 75% transfer credit (so 45 max out of 60). If we already have 9 credits from STU100, STU106, STU107, STU109, HRP101, and HON101, we would only need 6 more in-house credits to get the associate's degree.

Here is the 2025 catalog from the website and its policies on transferring TO Pima Community College.

https://catalog.pima.edu/content.php?cat...nto=search

"Up to 75% of program requirements may be met with transfer credit as long as students also satisfy in-residence credit hours toward program requirements."

It also appears that they do not take ACE/NCCRS credit transfers from Study.com/Sophia/etc outside of CLEP/AP.

Total cost would be ($90 + $1392)/15 credits = $98.80 per credit after receiving the AS General Studies. (This also does not include the cost of the 45 credits used to transfer in)  

(I tried signing up for STU102, but it was actually not a part of the free courses list. I was charged the $232/credit for out-of-staters online.

[bjcheung77]

For cheaper, easier, faster credits and a freebie associates, I usually recommend to get them free on route to your Bachelors. You can get them from TESU, UoPeople, UMPI, etc. Basically, the requirements for the associates is already completed when you've done your bachelors with them. I would only recommend spending on an associates if it's in a completely different subject area (not general or liberal studies).

[infradata.it@gmail.com]

I just finished 2 of these courses, both easy A's (only 90% needed)

1. STU 100 - College Success/Career Planning (1) - Each module has a bunch of readings, 1 discussion post + 2-3 replies (replies have to be done on two different days or else you lose 1 point), final essay is a 250 word paper, extra credit is 250 word paper for 25 points (out of 393)

2. STU 106 - Choosing Major/College Sccss (2)  - Each module has a bunch of readings, 1 discussion post + 2-3 replies (replies have to be done on two different days or else you lose 1 point),  final essay is a  700 word paper

I'm signed up for HRP101 (1), STU106 (1), and STU107 (1) for Summer 2025.

I somehow was also able to sign up for HON101 (3) for Fall 2025.

I don't know how much of a "deal" this is but since these 9 credits will cost roughly $90 total (after fees), if one has a ton of transfer credit, they can pay $232/credit online for 6 more credits ($1392) to get the AS General Studies degree at Pima Community College

https://catalog.pima.edu/preview_program...&poid=3343

The AS General Studies is 60 credits, and Pima CC allows up to 75% transfer credit (so 45 max out of 60). If we already have 9 credits from STU100, STU106, STU107, STU109, HRP101, and HON101, we would only need 6 more in-house credits to get the associate's degree.

Here is the 2025 catalog from the website and its policies on transferring TO Pima Community College.

https://catalog.pima.edu/content.php?cat...nto=search

"Up to 75% of program requirements may be met with transfer credit as long as students also satisfy in-residence credit hours toward program requirements."

It also appears that they do not take ACE/NCCRS credit transfers from Study.com/Sophia/etc outside of CLEP/AP.

Total cost would be ($90 + $1392)/15 credits = $98.80 per credit after receiving the AS General Studies. (This also does not include the cost of the 45 credits used to transfer in)  

(I tried signing up for STU102, but it was actually not a part of the free courses list. I was charged the $232/credit for out-of-staters online.

AWESOME WORK/INFO.. lets get this on wiki???

"I somehow was also able to sign up for HON101 (3) for Fall 2025."

Me too... can we be "study buddies"?
/
Side note ... I am working Clackamas on FEMA IS stuff (they "used to be" the best xfer option, a few years back, for FEMA IS)... it has not been a "no"... yet
I plan on asking the same with Pima CC... thoughts?